Daily Reading for Thursday, February 20th, 2014

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Reading 1, James 2:1-9

¹ My brothers, do not let class distinction enter into your faith in Jesus Christ, our glorified Lord.
² Now suppose a man comes into your synagogue, well-dressed and with a gold ring on, and at the same time a poor man comes in, in shabby clothes,
³ and you take notice of the well-dressed man, and say, 'Come this way to the best seats'; then you tell the poor man, 'Stand over there' or 'You can sit on the floor by my foot-rest.'
⁴ In making this distinction among yourselves have you not used a corrupt standard?
⁵ Listen, my dear brothers: it was those who were poor according to the world that God chose, to be rich in faith and to be the heirs to the kingdom which he promised to those who love him.
⁶ You, on the other hand, have dishonoured the poor. Is it not the rich who lord it over you?
⁷ Are not they the ones who drag you into court, who insult the honourable name which has been pronounced over you?
⁸ Well, the right thing to do is to keep the supreme Law of scripture: you will love your neighbour as yourself;
⁹ but as soon as you make class distinctions, you are committing sin and under condemnation for breaking the Law.

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Responsorial Psalm, Psalms 34:2-3, 4-5, 6-7

² I will praise Yahweh from my heart; let the humble hear and rejoice.
³ Proclaim with me the greatness of Yahweh, let us acclaim his name together.
⁴ I seek Yahweh and he answers me, frees me from all my fears.
⁵ Fix your gaze on Yahweh and your face will grow bright, you will never hang your head in shame.
⁶ A pauper calls out and Yahweh hears, saves him from all his troubles.
⁷ The angel of Yahweh encamps around those who fear him, and rescues them.

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Gospel, Mark 8:27-33

²⁷ Jesus and his disciples left for the villages round Caesarea Philippi. On the way he put this question to his disciples, 'Who do people say I am?'
²⁸ And they told him, 'John the Baptist, others Elijah, others again, one of the prophets.'
²⁹ 'But you,' he asked them, 'who do you say I am?' Peter spoke up and said to him, 'You are the Christ.'
³⁰ And he gave them strict orders not to tell anyone about him.
³¹ Then he began to teach them that the Son of man was destined to suffer grievously, and to be rejected by the elders and the chief priests and the scribes, and to be put to death, and after three days to rise again;
³² and he said all this quite openly. Then, taking him aside, Peter tried to rebuke him.
³³ But, turning and seeing his disciples, he rebuked Peter and said to him, 'Get behind me, Satan! You are thinking not as God thinks, but as human beings do.'

St. Wulfric

Feastday: February 20
1080 - 1154

Wulfric (d. 1154) + hermit and miracle worker. Born at Compton Martin, near Bristol, England, he became a priest and was excessively materialistic and worldly. After meeting with a beggar, he underwent a personal conversion and became a hermit at Haselbury; Somerset, England. For his remaining years, he devoted himself to rigorous austerities and was known for his miracles and prophecies. While he was never formally canonized, Wulfric was a very popular saint during the Middle Ages, and his tomb was visited by many pilgrims. Feast day: February 20.

 

from Wikipedia

Saint Wulfric, (1080 (?) at Compton Martin – 20 February 1154 at Haselbury Plucknett), was an anchorite and miracle worker frequently visited by King Stephen. His feast day is 20 February.

Life[edit]

Wulfric was born at Compton Martin, 10 miles south of Bristol. After becoming a priest, he at first exercised his ministry at Deverill, near Warminster. At this stage, apparently, he was much addicted to hunting, with both hawks and hounds. A chance conversation with a beggar, however, converted him to more godly pursuits, and moved back to Compton Martin as parish priest.^[1]
In the year 1125 Wulfric came to St. Michael and All Angels Church in Haselbury Plucknett, Somerset. Wulfric wished to spend the rest of his life as an Anchorite, withdrawn from the world, living in a cell adjacent to the church. This cell stood on the cold northern side of the chancel where the vestry is now. Although he apparently failed to obtain episcopal permission for this move, he was supported by the Cluniac monks at Montacute.^[1] Sir William FitzWalter had a great respect for his saintly neighbor; he sent provisions to him and visited him from time to time. Wulfric numbered among his intimate friends Osbern, the village priest, William, a lay-brother of Forde Abbey; and Brichtric, who seems to have joined him as a disciple or attendant.^[2]
Soon people came to him for guidance and blessing. During the reigns of kings Henry I and Stephen, Wulfric exercised a powerful influence, not only in his own neighborhood, but also at court.^[2] Henry I was informed, correctly, that he would shortly die, while King Stephen was chastised for the evils of his government.^[1] Wulfric is said to have received the gifts of prophecy and healing and was involved in many miraculous happenings. He became known as a healer of body, mind and spirit for all those who sought him out.
According to Abbot John of Forde Abbey, Wulfric lived alone in these simple quarters for twenty-nine years, devoting much of his time to reading the Bible and praying. In keeping with the ideals of medieval spirituality, he adopted stern ascetic practices: he deprived himself of sleep, ate a frugal meatless diet, spent hours reciting the psalms sitting in a bath of cold water, and wore a hair shirt and heavy chain-­‐mail tunic.^[3]
One of the most influential anchorite priests of medieval England, he died in his cell on the 20th February 1154.^[3] At his death, a scuffle occurred in and around St. Michael's between black-­robed Norman Cluniac monks from Montacute and folk from Haselbury and Crewkerne who had been summoned by Osbern, the Haselbury Priest. The monks maintained that providing food for the anchorite, which they had done for many years, gave them a claim to the holy man's mortal remains. But the locals forced them to withdraw and Wulfric was buried in his cell by the Bishop of Bath who had visited him at his death-bed.^[2] For security reasons, Osbern moved Wulfric's remains twice, until they came to rest somewhere near the west end of the church, "...in a place known only to himself and God".^[3]

Legacy[edit]

In July 2009 The Wulfric Festival was held at the parish churches of St Michael and All Angels at Haselbury and St Martin's at North Perrott, brings three days of classical, folk, jazz and West Gallery music, all in aid of the restoration of the two churches.^[4]

References[edit]

1. ^ ^{a b c} "The hermit who informed an English king that he would soon die", Catholic Herald, 21 February 2013
2. ^ ^{a b c} Clay, Rotha Mary. Hermits and Anchorites of England, p.74, Methuen & Co., Ltd., London, 1914
3. ^ ^{a b c} "Wulfric at St. Michael's, 1125-­1154", St. Michael and All Angels Church, Haselbury Pluckett, Somerset
4. ^ "Musical Notes", This is Dorset, 10 July 2009

Kila tunapokiri dhambi;Mungu hutukumbatia -Papa

Baba Mtakatifu mapema Jumatano, ametoa Katekesi kwa mahujaji na wageni waliokuwa wamekusanyika katika uwanja wa Kanisa Kuu la Mtakatifu Petro, kama ilivyokuwa kawaida ya siku hii. Katika maelezo yake , ameangalisha katika Sakramenti ya Ubatizo ambao ni mwanzo wa mtu kuwa Mkristu, akisema, kwa njia ya Sakramenti za kwanza za Ukristu , ubatizo , Ekaristi na Kipaimara , mtu anapata maisha mapya katika Kristo. Na baada ya hapo Wakristu wanapaswa kutambua kwamba, sasa ndiyo wanaianza safari ya maisha ya kweli ambayo si lele mama "(2 Kor 4:07 ), lakini ni maisha yaliyojaa majaribu, mateso, na hata mauti, kwa sababu ya dhambi ya asili , na bila kuwa waangalifu maisha haya mapya hata wanaweza kuyapoteza.

Kwa sababu hii Papa aamefafanua, Bwana Yesu alitaka Kanisa liwe pia pia na Sakramenti nyingine sakramenti ya msamaha wa dhambi (upatanisho) au kitubio na mpako wa mafuta ya wagonjwa , ambavyo vinaweza kuwa chini ya jina la moja " sakramenti za uponyaji" .
Papa Francisko ameendelea kufundisha kwamba, Sakramenti ya Upatanisho ni sakramenti ya uponyaji. Na wakati muumini anapokwenda kukiri dhambi zake mbele ya kuhani, anakwenda kuomba kuponywa roho , kuponya moyo wake kwa kila jambo lililoichafua roho. Papa ameeleza kwa kurejea mfano unao onyesha dhamana bora ya kina katika msamaha na uponyaji wa mtu aliyepooza, ambapo Yesu alifanya yote mawili kwa wakati mmoja , kama daktari wa mwili na kiroho. (cf. Mk 2:1-12 / / Mt 9,1-8 , Lk 5.17-26 ).

Papa aliendelea kuizungumzia Sakramenti yaKitubio na Upatanisho ambayo pia huitwa sakramenti ya maungamo,akisema tunaweza kuiunganisha moja kwa moja na fumbo la Pasaka . Kwa kweli, usiku huo wa Pasaka, Bwana alijitokeza kwa wanafunzi katika chumba ghorofani kilicho kuwa kimefungwa, na , baada ya salamu "Amani iwe nanyi" , akawavuvia na kuwaambia , " Pokeeni Roho Mtakatifu. Kwa wale ambao mtawasamehe dhambi zao nao watasamehewa "(Yn 20:21-23) .
Papa amesema, kifungu hiki , kinaonyesha zaidi utendaji wa ndani wa Sakramenti. Awali ya yote, ni ukweli kwamba, msamaha wa dhambi zetu si jambo tunaloweza sisi kujipa wenyewe, katika maana ya kujiondolea dhambi mwenyewe , mimi nimejisamehe dhambi zangu, lakini msamaha unadai kutolewa na mtu mwingine, na kuomba msamaha ni kuomba na kumkiri Yesu kuw andiye mwenye kuondoa dhambi na si mtu mwingine. Na msahama si matokeo ya juhudi zetu , lakini ni zawadi, ni zawadi ya Roho Mtakatifu , ambaye anatujaza na kututakasa kwa huruma na neema inayotoka kwa Yesu Kristu Msulubiwa na Mfufuka, alieyufunua moyo wake wote wazi kwa ajili ya kusamehe wadhambi bila ukomo.
Papa amekubusha kwamba, kujipatanisha na Baba wa Mbinguni, na Bwana Yesu Kristo na ndugu zetu, tunakuwa na amani ya kweli. Na hili huweza kusikika ndani ya mioyo ya wote wale wanaoiendelea altare ya maungamo , wakiwa wamejawa na moyo mzito na woga lakini mara wanaposiki Yesu amewasamehe dhambi zao, mara hujisikia wepesi moyoni na kuwa na amani zaidi.
Papa ameendelea kufundisha kwamba , kuiadhimisha Sakramenti ya Upatanisho maana yake ni kuikumbatia kwa nguvu , kukumbatia bila ukomo huruma ya Baba. , kama ilivyokuwa kwa mfano wa Mwana Mpotevu aliyetapanya sehemu ya urithi na baada ya kuishiwa, dhiki kubwa ilimfanya arudi nyumbani kwa aibu , si kama mtoto lakini kama mtumishi . Moyoni mwake alijisikia vibaya sana na alijiona kuw na hatia moyoni mwake na kushikwa na aibu kubwa . Lakini kwa mshangao wakati yeye akianza kuzungumza na kuomba msamaha kwa Baba yake, alimkubatia na kumbusu kwa huruma na kumkaribisha nyumbani, si kama mtumishi lakini kama mtoto.
Papa anasema maajabu haya. Na ndivyo Mungu anavyotutendea sisi tunapojitenga nae na kutapanya baraka alizotujalia , tukijichafua kwa dhambi, mara tunapomrudia yeye hutukumbatia na kutubariki tena, kama wana wake. Tunachotakiwa kila mara ni kurejea katika madhabahu ya kitubio na upatanisho kusema baba nimekosa , naye kwa wingi wa huruma atatupokea na kutukumbatia na kutupatia tena baraka zake. Baada ya salaam zake Papa alisalimia katika lugha mbalimbali. Wiki hii makundi makubwa ya mahujaji na wageni walitoka Uingereza , Norway, Nigeria , Japan na Marekani.

Catholic Facts and General Knowledge

Catholic Belief

1. To gain the happiness of heaven we must know, love, and serve God in this world. Man must know, love and serve God in a supernatural manner in order to gain happiness of heaven. Man is raised to the supernatural order only by grace, a free gift of God.
2. We learn to know, love, and serve God from Jesus Christ, the Son of God, who teaches us through the Catholic Church.
3. In order to be saved, all persons who have attained the use of reason must believe explicitly that God exist and that he rewards the good and punishes the wicked; in practice they must also believe in the mysteries of the Blessed Trinity and the Incarnation.
4. By the Blessed Trinity we mean one and the same God in three divine persons, the Father, the Son, and the Holy Ghost.
5. By the Incarnation is meant that the Son of God, retaining His divine nature, took to Himself a human nature, that is, a body and soul like ours.
6. The Church is the congregation of all baptized persons united in the same true faith, the same sacrifice, and the same sacraments, under the authority of the Sovereign Pontiff and the bishops in communion with him.
7. We find the chief truths taught by Jesus Christ through the Catholic Church in the Apostles' Creed.

The Commandments

Besides believing what God has revealed, we must keep His law.

The Two Great Commandments

that contain the whole law of God are:

You shall love the Lord your God with your whole heart, and with your whole soul, and with your whole mind, and with your whole strength; you shall love your neighbor as yourself.

To love God, our neighbor, and ourselves, we must keep the commandments of God and of the Church, and perform the spiritual and corporal works of mercy.

The Ten Commandments of God

1. I am the Lord your God; you shall not have strange gods before me.
2. You shall not take the name of the Lord your God in vain.
3. Remember to keep holy the Lord's day
4. Honor your father and your mother.
5. You shall not kill.
6. You shall not commit adultery.
7. You shall not steal.
8. You shall not bear false witness against your neighbor.
9. You shall not covet your neighbor's wife.
10. You shall not covet you neighbor's goods.

The Chief Commandments or Laws, of the Church

1. To assist at Mass on all Sundays and holy days of obligation.
2. To fast and abstain on the days appointed.
3. To confess our sins at least once a year.
4. To receive Holy Communion during the Easter time.
5. To contribute to the support of the Church.
6. To observe the laws of the Church concerning marriage.

Haiti’s bishops rejoice over country’s first Cardinal-to-be

(Vatican Radio) Haiti’s bishops are giving thanks for the creation of their first Cardinal in the upcoming Consistory this Saturday February 22^nd. Pope Francis will give the new red hat to the President of the Haitian Bishops’ Conference, Bishop Chibly Langlois, of the Diocese of Les Cayes. The bishops also urged Haiti's political and civil leaders to support "the process of national dialogue" to further the "higher interests of the nation and the good of the Haitian people."

Upon hearing the news of the nomination of their first Cardinal, the Haitian Bishops’ Conference at the end of last month issued a pastoral message to all “men and women of good will.” We publish below the unofficial translation of that message:

Sisters and Brothers Beloved !
” Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ! “(2 Thessalonians 1: 2)
1 . In this Year of grace 2014 we commemorate the 210th Anniversary of the Independence of Haiti , we are at a crucial moment in our history , both ecclesiastical and at the social and political level . The ecclesial level , it is time for thanksgiving and joy with the creation , on February 22 next by Pope Francis, the first Haitian Cardinal, His Eminence Cardinal Chibly LANGLOIS , Bishop of the Diocese of Les Cayes and President of the CEH . It is a mark of great confidence that honors all the Haitian people.

2 . At the Social and political level , it is a time of hope for a national dialogue. In a pastoral note dated September 27, 2013 , the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of Haiti had offered his mediation to help political and state actors to interact together to find a concerted and consensual solution to the crisis in our nation . This dialogue is ongoing.

3 . We invite all sectors of national life to continue to support this process by bringing in our thoughts , our communications and especially in prayer, so that all actors involved in the national dialogue will be enlightened and guided by the inspiration and Wisdom of the Lord Our God to work selflessly , tirelessly , so the higher interests of the nation and the good of the Haitian people may prevail .

4 . In this perspective , we the Bishops of the Catholic Church in Haiti , decree Feb. 7, 2014 , a day of fasting and prayer in all dioceses , parishes , chapels and communities. We believe in the power of prayer as it is the encounter with the living God -an encounter opening up new horizons , unites us to the Lord our God and unites us to one another in the light of faith , Hope and Charity . It is also the inexhaustible source of all personal and collective efforts in favor of the common good .

5 . We invite all Catholic faithful , all Priests , Religious , Religious , all Christians , all believers, all men and all women of good will to engage in this prayerful initiative to accompany , support and carry forward national dialogue that aims at nothing but the material and spiritual welfare of all Haitians.

6 . We take this opportunity to announce that the Church in Haiti will hold a Mass at Sylvio Cator Stadium , Sunday, March 9, 2014 , at 3:00 pm to give thanks to God for the gift of a Haitian Cardinal to the universal Church .

7 . May the Lord our God bless us and bless this efforts in favor of reconciliation , peace and genuine development of the Haitian people !

8 . May the Blessed Virgin Mary, Our Lady of Perpetual Help , Patroness of Haiti , watch over and protect us !

Given to Lillavois at the Headquarters of the CEH , the feast of St. John Bosco, 31 January 2014 .

البابا فرنسيس: كلمة يسوع تحفظنا من السقوط في الخطيئة

"يمكننا أن نقاوم التجارب فقط إن أصغينا لكلمة يسوع" هذا ما أكده قداسة البابا فرنسيس صباح اليوم الثلاثاء في عظته مترئسًا القداس الإلهي في كابلة بيت القديسة مرتا بالفاتيكان وذكر أن المسيح يمنحنا الثقة دائمًا بالرغم من ضعفنا ويفتح قلوبنا على أفق أوسع من محدوديتنا.

قال الأب الأقدس: تظهر التجربة أولاً جذّابةً لتتحول بعدها وتصبح قفصًا غالبًا ما لا يمكننا الخروج منه. توقف الأب الأقدس في عظته عند القراءة الأولى التي تقدمها لنا الليتورجيا اليوم من رسالة القديس يعقوب وقال: نجد في هذا النص حقيقة وتتابعًا: فالحقيقة هي أن "اللهَ لا يُجَرِّبُه الشَّرُّ ولا يُجَرِّبُ أَحَدًا في حينِ أَنَّ لكُلِ إنسانٍ شهوةً تُجَرِّبُه فتَستَهويه وتُغويه"، أما التتابع فهو ناتج عن الشهوة وكما يقول القديس يعقوب: "والشَّهوَةُ إِذا حَبِلَت وَلَدَتِ الخَطيئَة، والخَطيئَةُ إِذا تمَّ أَمرُها وَلَدَتِ المَوت".

تابع الأب الأقدس يتساءل: من أين تأتي التجربة؟ كيف تعمل في داخلنا؟ يقول لنا الرسول أنها لا تأتي من الله وإنما من شهواتنا وضعفنا الداخلي، ومن الجراح التي خلّفتها فينا الخطيئة الأصليّة. ولكل تجربة ثلاث ميزات: فهي تنمو وتعدي وتبرّر أسبابها. تولد بطريقة هادئة ومن ثم تنمو... تمامًا كما يخبرنا يسوع في مثل القمح والزؤان: نما القمح لكن الزؤان الذي زرعه عدو ذلك الرجل نما أيضًا، وهكذا التجربة أيضًا، تنمو وتنمو وإن لم نوقفها تستولي على كلّ شيء.

أضاف الحبر الأعظم يقول: وبالتالي، فإن التجربة تبحث دائمًا عن من يرافقها لذلك وخلال نموها تسبب العدوى أيضًا، وتغلقنا في بيئة يُصعب الخروج منها بسهولة. وهذه هي خبرة الرسل الذي يخبرنا عنها الإنجيل الذي تقدمه لنا الليتورجيا اليوم من إنجيل القديس مرقس: إذ نسي الرسل أن يأخذوا خبزًا ولَم يَكُن عِندَهم في السَّفينَة سِوى رَغيف واحِد، فجعَلوا يتجادَلونَ لأَنَّه لا خُبزَ عِندَهم. فأخذ يسوع يوصيهم فيقول: "تَبَصروا واحذَروا خمير الفرِيسِيِّين وخميرَ هيرودس"، لكنهم كانوا منهمكين في الجدال في إلقاء اللوم بعضهم على بعض ولم يفسحوا المجال ليسمعوا كلمة الله ويستنيروا بها.

وهكذا هي الحال بالنسبة لنا نحن أيضًا، تابع البابا يقول، إذ عندما نكون في تجربة لا نصغي إلى كلمة الله ولا نفهمها. ولذلك ذكر يسوع تلاميذه بأعجوبة تكثير الخبز ليساعدهم على الخروج من جدالهم لأن التجربة تغلق أمامنا كلّ الآفاق وتمنع عنا كل قدرة على التمييز وتحملنا على الوقوع في الخطيئة. لذلك وعندما نكون في وسط التجارب وحدها كلمة الله وكلمة يسوع بإمكانهما أن تنقذاننا! بالإصغاء إلى كلمات يسوع ينفتح الأفق أمامنا... فيسوع جاهز دائمًا ليعلمنا كيفية التغلب على التجارب والخروج منها، ويثق بنا أيضًا. وهذه الثقة هي قوة عظيمة لنا عندما نكون في التجارب! فالرب ينتظرنا ويثق بنا بالرغم من خطايانا وتجاربنا ويفتح أمامنا آفاقًا جديدةً، أما الشيطان والتجربة فيغلقاننا على أنفسنا ويحبساننا في بيئة تنمو فيها التجارب وتقود إلى الخطيئة. وحده الإصغاء لكلمة يسوع قادر على إخراجنا من سجن التجارب.

وختم البابا فرنسيس عظته بالقول: لنطلب من الله دائمًا أن يعاملنا بصبر وسط تجاربنا كما عامل تلاميذه ويقول لكل منا: "قف واهدأ تذكر ما فعلته لك في ذلك الوقت. ارفع عينيك وانظر إلى الأفق ولا تنغلق على نفسك" وكلمات يسوع هذه ستنقذنا من التجربة وتمنعنا من السقوط في الخطيئة.

Majina ya wenyeheri watarajiwa!

Baba Mtakatifu Francisko hivi karibuni ameridhia kuchapwa kwa nyaraka mbali mbali zinazowahusu watumishi wa Mungu na wenyeheri katika mchakato wa kutangazwa kuwa watakatifu kama zilivyowasilishwa kwake na Kardinali Angelo Amato, Mwenyekiti wa Baraza la Kipapa la kuwatangaza waamini kuwa wenyeheri na watakatifu. Kati yao kuna:

Mtumishi wa Mungu Padre Piet Asua Mendia, kutoka Hispania, aliyezaliwa tarehe 30 Agosti 1890 na kuuwawa kutokana na chuki za kidini tarehe 29 Agosti 1936.

Mtumishi wa Mungu Padre Giuseppe Girelli kutoka Jimbo la Verona, Italia, aliyezaliwa tarehe 10 Januari 1886 na kufariki dunia Mei Mosi 1978 kutokana na ushupavu wake wa kiimani.

Kanisa limetambua karama ya ushupavu wa kiimani ulioneshwa na Mtumishi wa Mungu Padre Zaccaria di Santa Teresa wa Shirika la Wakrameli, aliyezaliwa kunako tarehe 5 Novemba 1887 na kufariki dunia tarehe 23 Mei 1957, akiwa nchini India.

Mama Kanisa ametambua ushupavu wa kiimani ulioshuhudiwa na Mtumishi wa Mungu Marcella Mallet, Mwanzilishi wa Shirika la Masista wa Upendo, Quebec, aliyezaliwa tarehe 26 Machi 1805 na kufariki dunia hapo tarehe 9 Aprili 1871.

Wengine katika orodha hii ni pamoja na Mtumishi wa Mungu Maria Benadetta Aria, Mwanzilishi wa Shirika la Masista wahudumu wa Yesu katika Sakramenti, aliyezaliwa tarehe 3 Aprili 1822 huko Buenos Aires, Argentina na kufariki dunia tarehe 25 Septemba 1894 kutoka na ushupavu wake wa kiimani.

Kanisa linatambua ushupavu wa kiimani uliojidhihirisha katika maisha ya Mtumishi wa Mungu Margharita wa Moyo Mtakatifu wa Yesu, Mwanzilishi wa Shirika la Masista Wafranciskani wa Moyo Mtakatifu wa Yesu, aliyezaliwa kunako tarehe 28 Novemba 1862 huko Malta na kufariki dunia tarehe 22 Januari 1952.

Mama Kanisa anatambua fadhila za ushupavu wa kiimani zilizooneshwa kwa namna ya pekee katika maisha ya Mtumishi wa Mungu Serafina wa Shirika la Masista Waabuduo Damu Takatifu ya Yesu, aliyezaliwa tarehe 31 Januari 1913 na kufariki dunia hapo tarehe 21 Oktoba 1988 huko Manaus, Brazil.

Mwishoni, Kanisa limetambua pia fadhila za kiimani zilizojitokeza katika maisha ya Mtumishi wa Mungu Elizabeth Sanna, mjane na mwamini mlei, aliyejifunga kwa nadhiri katika Utawa wa watu wa Mtakatifu Francisko katika huduma ya upendo na mshikamano ulioanzishwa na Mtakatifu Vinzent wa Paolo. Yeye alizaliwa tarehe 23 Aprili 1788 Sassari, Italia na kufariki dunia tarehe 17 Februari 1857 mjini Roma.

Daily Reading for Wednesday, February 19th, 2014

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Reading 1, James 1:19-27

¹⁹ Remember this, my dear brothers: everyone should be quick to listen but slow to speak and slow to human anger;
²⁰ God's saving justice is never served by human anger;
²¹ so do away with all impurities and remnants of evil. Humbly welcome the Word which has been planted in you and can save your souls.
²² But you must do what the Word tells you and not just listen to it and deceive yourselves.
²³ Anyone who listens to the Word and takes no action is like someone who looks at his own features in a mirror and,
²⁴ once he has seen what he looks like, goes off and immediately forgets it.
²⁵ But anyone who looks steadily at the perfect law of freedom and keeps to it -- not listening and forgetting, but putting it into practice -- will be blessed in every undertaking.
²⁶ Nobody who fails to keep a tight rein on the tongue can claim to be religious; this is mere self-deception; that person's religion is worthless.
²⁷ Pure, unspoilt religion, in the eyes of God our Father, is this: coming to the help of orphans and widows in their hardships, and keeping oneself uncontaminated by the world.

---

Responsorial Psalm, Psalms 15:2-3, 3-4, 5

² Whoever lives blamelessly, who acts uprightly, who speaks the truth from the heart,
³ who keeps the tongue under control, who does not wrong a comrade, who casts no discredit on a neighbour,
⁴ who looks with scorn on the vile, but honours those who fear Yahweh, who stands by an oath at any cost,
⁵ who asks no interest on loans, who takes no bribe to harm the innocent. No one who so acts can ever be shaken.

---

Gospel, Mark 8:22-26

²² They came to Bethsaida, and some people brought to him a blind man whom they begged him to touch.
²³ He took the blind man by the hand and led him outside the village. Then, putting spittle on his eyes and laying his hands on him, he asked, 'Can you see anything?'
²⁴ The man, who was beginning to see, replied, 'I can see people; they look like trees as they walk around.'
²⁵ Then he laid his hands on the man's eyes again and he saw clearly; he was cured, and he could see everything plainly and distinctly.
²⁶ And Jesus sent him home, saying, 'Do not even go into the village.'

St. Monica

Feastday: August 27

Patron of Wives and Abuse Victims
Died: 387

St. Monica was married by arrangement to a pagan official in North Africa, who was much older than she, and although generous, was also violent tempered. His mother Lived with them and was equally difficult, which proved a constant challenge to St. Monica. She had three children; Augustine, Navigius, and Perpetua. Through her patience and prayers, she was able to convert her husband and his mother to the Catholic faith in 370. He died a year later. Perpetua and Navigius entered the religious Life. St. Augustine was much more difficult, as she had to pray for him for 17 years, begging the prayers of priests who, for a while, tried to avoid her because of her persistence at this seemingly hopeless endeavor. One priest did console her by saying, "it is not possible that the son of so many tears should perish." This thought, coupled with a vision that she had received strengthened her. St. Augustine was baptized by St. Ambrose in 387. St. Monica died later that same year, on the way back to Africa from Rome in the Italian town of Ostia.

 

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from Wikipedia Saint Monica^[1] (AD 331^[2] – 387), also known as Monica of Hippo, (Be. Timaniket) was an early Christian saint and the mother of St. Augustine of Hippo. She is honoured in the Roman Catholic Church where she is remembered and venerated for her outstanding Christian virtues, particularly the suffering against the adultery of her husband, and a prayerful life dedicated to the reformation of her son, who wrote extensively of her pious acts and life with her in his Confessions. Popular Christian legends recall Saint Monica to have wept every night for her son Augustine.

Contents

• 1 Life
• 2 Veneration
• 3 In popular culture
• 4 Gallery
• 5 References
• 6 Bibliography
• 7 External links

Life[edit]

Because of her name and place of birth, Monica is assumed to have been of Berber origin.^[3] She was married early in life to Patricius, a pagan, who held an official position in Tagaste (present-day Souk Ahras, Algeria). Patricius had a violent temper and appears to have been of dissolute habits. In addition, her mother-in-law seems to have been of a like disposition. Her alms deeds and her habits of prayer annoyed him, but it is said that he always held her in respect.^[4]
Monica had three children who survived infancy: Augustine the eldest, Navigius the second, and a daughter, Perpetua. Monica had been unable to secure baptism for her children, and she experienced much grief when Augustine fell ill. In her distress she asked Patritius to allow Augustine to be baptized; Patritius agreed, but on the boy's recovery withdrew his consent.
All Monica's anxiety now centered in Augustine; he was wayward and, as he himself tells us, lazy. He was sent to school at Madaurus.Her husband died while the 17 year old Augustine was studying rhetoric in Carthage.^[4]
At Carthage Augustine had become a Manichaean and when on his return home he shared his views regarding Manichaeism, Monica drove him away from her table. However, she is said to have experienced a vision that convinced her to reconcile with her son.^[4]

Saint Augustine and his mother, Saint Monica (painting from 1846)

It was at this time that she went to see a certain holy bishop, whose name is not given, but who consoled her with the now famous words, "the child of those tears shall never perish." Monica followed her wayward son to Rome, where he had gone secretly; when she arrived he had already gone to Milan, but she followed him. Here she found St. Ambrose and through him she ultimately had the joy of seeing Augustine convert to Christianity, after seventeen years of resistance.
In his book Confessions, Augustine wrote of a peculiar practice of his mother in which she "brought to certain oratories, erected in the memory of the saints, offerings of porridge, bread, and wine."^[5] When she moved to Milan, the bishop Ambrose forbade her to use the offering of wine, since "it might be an occasion of gluttony for those who were already given to drink". So, Augustine wrote of her:

In place of a basket filled with fruits of the earth, she had learned to bring to the oratories of the martyrs a heart full of purer petitions, and to give all that she could to the poor - so that the communion of the Lord's body might be rightly celebrated in those places where, after the example of his passion, the martyrs had been sacrificed and crowned.

— Confessions 6.2.2

Mother and son spent six months of true peace at Rus Cassiciacum (present-day Cassago Brianza) after which time Augustine was baptized in the church of St. John the Baptist at Milan. Africa claimed them, however, and they set out on their journey, stopping at Civitavecchia and at Ostia. Here death overtook Monica and the finest pages of Augustine's Confessions were penned as the result of the emotion he then experienced.

Veneration[edit]

Saint Monica's tomb, Basilica di Sant'Agostino, Rome

Saint Monica was buried at Ostia, and at first seems to have been almost forgotten, though her body was removed during the 6th century to a hidden crypt in the church of Santa Aurea in Osta. Monica was buried near the tomb of St. Aurea of Ostia.^[6] It was later transferred to the Augustinian Basilica of Sant'Agostino in Rome.
Anicius Bassus wrote Monica's funerary epitaph, which survived in ancient manuscripts.^[6] The actual stone on which it was written was rediscovered in the summer of 1945 in the church of Santa Aurea. The fragment was discovered after two boys were digging a hole to plant a football post in the courtyard beside Santa Aurea.^[7]
A translation from the Latin, by Douglas Boin, reads as:

Here the most virtuous mother of a young man set her ashes, a second light to your merits, Augustine. As a priest, serving the heavenly laws of peace, you taught [or, you teach] the people entrusted to you with your character. A glory greater than the praise of your accomplishments crowns you both - Mother of the Virtues, more fortunate because of her offspring.^[6]

About the 13th century, however, the cult of St. Monica began to spread and a feast in her honour was kept on 4 May. In 1430 Pope Martin V ordered the relics to be brought to Rome. Many miracles occurred on the way, and the cultus of St. Monica was definitely established. Later the Archbishop of Rouen, Cardinal d'Estouteville, built a church at Rome in honour of St. Augustine, the Basilica di Sant'Agostino, and deposited the relics of St. Monica in a chapel to the left of the high altar. The Office of St. Monica, however, does not seem to have found a place in the Roman Breviary before the 16th century.
The city of Santa Monica, California, is named after Monica. A legend states that in the 18th century Father Juan Crespí named a local dripping spring Las Lagrimas de Santa Monica ("Saint Monica’s Tears") (today known as the Serra Springs) that was reminiscent of the tears that Saint Monica shed over her son's early impiety.^[8] As recorded in his diary, however, Crespí actually named the place San Gregorio.^[8] What is known for certain is that by the 1820s, the name Santa Monica was in use and its first official mention occurred in 1827 in the form of a grazing permit.^[8] There is a statue of this saint in Santa Monica's Palisades Park by sculptor Eugene Morahan; it was completed in 1934.^[9]

In popular culture[edit]

The "weeping" springs outside Santa Monica, California were named for the saint.
In the 2012 film Restless Heart: The Confessions of Saint Augustine, Saint Monica is portrayed by Italian actress Monica Guerritore.

Gallery[edit]

• 

  Marriage of Saint Monica by Antonio Vivarini, 1441
  
• 

  Statue of St. Monica on the facade of a former Augustinian church in Tábor, Czech Republic, ca. 1700
  
• 

  The Angel Appears to Saint Monica by Pietro Maggi, 1714
  
• 

  Fresco by Simon Benedikt Faistenberger, 1749
  

References[edit]

1. ^ "...Augustine's mother's name, Monica, is Berber ... the names Monnica and Nonnica are found on tombstones in the Libyan language - as such Monnica is the only Berber name commonly used in English", Michael Brett and Elizabeth Fentress, The Berbers, Wiley-Blackwell, 1997, p.71, 293
2. ^ The Liturgy of the Hours, Volume IV. Proper of Saints, August 27.
3. ^ Michael Brett and Elizabeth Fentress, The Berbers, Wiley-Blackwell, 1997, p.71.
4. ^ ^{a b c} Foley O.F.M., Leonard. Saint of the Day, Lives, Lessons, and Feast, (revised by Pat McCloskey O.F.M.) Franciscan Media
5. ^ Confessions 6.2.2
6. ^ ^{a b c} "Church of Sant'Aurea". Ostia-Antica.org. Retrieved March 15, 2011.
7. ^ Peter Brown, Augustine of Hippo: A Biography, Revised Edition with a New Epilogue (University of California Press, 2000), 124.
8. ^ ^{a b c} Paula A. Scott, Santa Monica: a history on the edge. Making of America series (Arcadia Publishing, 2004), 17-18.
9. ^ "Santa Monica Sculpture". You Are Here.com. ?. Retrieved March 14, 2011.

Bibliography[edit]

• Peter Brown, Augustine of Hippo: A Biography. New edition with an epilogue, Berkeley, University of California Press, c2000
• Everett Ferguson, Encyclopedia of Early Christianity, Taylor & Francis, 1998, p. 776
• John J. O'Meara, The Young Augustine:the growth of St. Augustine's mind up to his conversion, London, Longmans, Green and Co, 1954

•  "St. Monica". Catholic Encyclopedia. New York: Robert Appleton Company. 1913.
• Saint Monica at EWTN
• Saint Monica at Sacred Texts

Bl. Alvarez of Corova

Bl. Alvarez of Corova

Feastday: February 19
1350 - 1430

Alvarez was born in either Lisbon, Portugal, or Cordova, Spain. He entered the Dominican convent at Cordova in 1368. He became known for his preaching prowess in Spain and Italy, was confessor and adviser of Queen Catherine, John of Gaunt's daughter, and tutor of King John II in his youth. He reformed the court, and then left the court to found a monastery near Cordova. There the Escalaceli (ladder of heaven) that he built became a center of religious devotion. He successfully led the opposition to antipope Benedict XII (Peter de Luna), and by the time of his death was famous all over Spain for his teaching, preaching, asceticism, and holiness. His cult was confirmed in 1741.

Vishawishi vya majaribu huweza kuua, lakini Neno la Yesu huokoa.

(Vatican) Kushinda upotofu wa vishawishi vya majaribu inawezekana tu kwa kusikiliza Neno la Yesu. Papa Francisko alieleza katika homilia yake wakati wa Ibada ya Misa ya Jumanne asubuhi, aliyo iongoza katika Kanisa dogo la Mtakatifu Marta mjini Vatican. Alisema pamoja na udhaifu wetu , daima Kristo hutupatia imani na kufungua upeo wa macho na uwezo, katika kuiona mipaka yetu.

Majaribu huonekana kama kivutio poa ambacho taratibu humwingiza mtu dani ya ngome na kumfanya kuwa mtumwa na kiziwi kwa neno la Mungu. Hotuba ya Papa Francisko ilieleza ukweli huo kufanya rejea mfululizo wa maelezo ya Mtakatifu Yakobo, kama ilivyokuwa katika somo la Liturujia. Papa alieleza Ukweli kwamba Mungu hamtengi binadamu yoyote, ila binadamu hujitenga mwenyewe kwa nia na tamaa zake mbaya . Mtume Yakobo anasema, tamaa huzalisha dhambi. Na dhambi huzalisha mauti.

Papa aliendelea kuuliza majaribu hutoka wapi ?

Baba Mtakatifu Francisko , Jumapili iliyopita majira ya jioni alifanya ziara ya Kichungaji katika Parokia ya Mtakatifu Thomas Mtume iliyoko nje kidogo ya jiji la Roma, kwa nia ya kuvuvia na kuhamasisha uhusiano ukweli, uaminifu, na usafi wa moyo. Pia kutabaruki Kanisa Jipya katika eneo hilo. Kwa ajili hiyo, Papa aliongoza Ibada ya Misa iliyohudhuriwa na maelfu ya wakazi wa eneo hilo la Infernetto, Parokia ya Kusini mwa jiji la Roma ambayo ni sehemu ya Jimbo la Roma.

Papa katika Parokia hiyo alikaribishwa na umati mkubwa wa waaamini wakiongozwa na Kardinali Agostino Vallini , Vika wa Jimbo la Roma, akiwepo pia , Askofu msaidizi wa eneo hilo, Msgr Paolino Schiavon na Paroko Antonio D' Errico.

Akiwa katika Parokia hiyo, Papa alisalimiana na watoto na kuwapatia kile kilichiiotwa tiketi ya kuanza safari ya kutembea katika imani, akiwaambia siri ya kumpenda Yesu ni kumwachia yeye afanye kazi katika maisha yetu. Kwa kuwa Yeye alitupenda kwanza. Watoto hao wadogo wakiwa na nyuso za tabasamu waliinyosha mikono yao kwa Papa , huku wakisema, "Wewe ni rafiki yetu , na baadhi walipiga nae tano, Kisha alikutana na wazazi wa watoto waliobatizwa hivi karibuni wazee, wagonjwa , mapadre, na Chama cha Familia cha watoto wenye ulemavu. Na kabla ya Misa, alipata muda wa kuwaungamisha waaamini kadhaa.

Wakati wa Ibada , Papa aliangalisha homilia yake, katika somo la Injili , ambamo Mtakatifu Matayo anahimiza uhusiano mzuri kati ya mtu na mtu na hasa katika maeneo madogo ambamo watu hufahamiana kirahisi kwamba , ni lazima kuongozwa na misingi ya uaminifu na Ukweli . Ukweli unaotoka ndani ya moyo.

Papa aliwataka wote waliokuwa wamefika katika Ibada hyo, kila mmoja wao kuitafakari hali ya nafsi yake kama ni safi au chafu , ni kufikiri kilichomo ndani ya moyo na kuoana kama "Kuna upendo? Au kuna chuki ? Na iwapo kuna tabia ya msamaha kwa wale wanaotukosea na kutuumiza kimaisha au kuna tabia ya kulipa kisasi . Alikazia ni muhimu kujiuliza kilichomo ndani kwa sababu ndani ya hutoka yote matenda uovu, au wema . Na wema huupata uhuru moyo kuliko uovu.

Papa amekiri, ni kweli, kusamehe na kuwa mtu mwema si rahisi, lakini ni muhimu katika kuyatembea maisha matakatifu hasa katika kumpokea Bwana,na kuomba aingilie kati maisha yetu. Ni daima kuiomba neema hii ya kujua nini kinaendelea ndani ya moyo, na daima kufanya uchaguzi sahihi , uchaguzi wa mzuri. Ni kukumbuka kwamba matendo maovu katika maisha yetu huchafua roho zetu na kutuweka mbali na Bwana. Tuombe Bwana atusaidie daima, kuwa karibu nae, Papa alisisitiza. .

Hii ilikuw ani Parokia ya nne kutembelewa na Papa Francisko tangu kuanza utume wake mwaka jana. Mwishoni mwa Misa, Papa alitoa na shukrani kwa Paroko Padre Antonio d' Errico wa Parokia ya Mtakatifu Thomas Mtume, ambayo iko katika eneo lenye hili maarufu la Infernettalenye wakazi wapatao 25,000.

Andalia Video ya Godwin Ngosso - Siku Ya Kufa

Daily Reading for Tuesday, February 18th, 2014

---

Reading 1, James 1:12-18

¹² Blessed is anyone who perseveres when trials come. Such a person is of proven worth and will win the prize of life, the crown that the Lord has promised to those who love him.
¹³ Never, when you are being put to the test, say, 'God is tempting me'; God cannot be tempted by evil, and he does not put anybody to the test .
¹⁴ Everyone is put to the test by being attracted and seduced by that person's own wrong desire.
¹⁵ Then the desire conceives and gives birth to sin, and when sin reaches full growth, it gives birth to death.
¹⁶ Make no mistake about this, my dear brothers:
¹⁷ all that is good, all that is perfect, is given us from above; it comes down from the Father of all light; with him there is no such thing as alteration, no shadow caused by change.
¹⁸ By his own choice he gave birth to us by the message of the truth so that we should be a sort of first-fruits of all his creation.

---

Responsorial Psalm, Psalms 94:12-13, 14-15, 18-19

¹² How blessed are those you instruct, Yahweh, whom you teach by means of your law,
¹³ to give them respite in evil times, till a pit is dug for the wicked.
¹⁴ Yahweh will not abandon his people, he will not desert his heritage;
¹⁵ for judgement will again become saving justice, and in its wake all upright hearts will follow.
¹⁸ I need only say, 'I am slipping,' for your faithful love, Yahweh, to support me;
¹⁹ however great the anxiety of my heart, your consolations soothe me.

---

Gospel, Mark 8:14-21

¹⁴ The disciples had forgotten to take any bread and they had only one loaf with them in the boat.
¹⁵ Then he gave them this warning, 'Keep your eyes open; look out for the yeast of the Pharisees and the yeast of Herod.'
¹⁶ And they said to one another, 'It is because we have no bread.'
¹⁷ And Jesus knew it, and he said to them, 'Why are you talking about having no bread? Do you still not understand, still not realise? Are your minds closed?
¹⁸ Have you eyes and do not see, ears and do not hear? Or do you not remember?
¹⁹ When I broke the five loaves for the five thousand, how many baskets full of scraps did you collect?' They answered, 'Twelve.'
²⁰ 'And when I broke the seven loaves for the four thousand, how many baskets full of scraps did you collect?' And they answered, 'Seven.'
²¹ Then he said to them, 'Do you still not realise?'

St. Simon

Feastday: February 18

In St. Matthew's Gospel, we read of St. Simon or Simeon who is described as one of our Lord's brethren or kinsmen. His father was Cleophas, St. Joseph's brother, and his mother, according to some writers, was our Lady's sister. He would therefore be our Lord's first cousin and is supposed to have been about eight years older than He. No doubt he is one of those brethren of Christ who are  mentioned in the Acts of the Apostles as having received the Holy Spirit on Pentecost. St. Epiphanius says that when the Jews massacred St. James the Lesser, his brother Simeon upbraided them for their cruelty. The apostles and disciples afterwards met together to appoint a successor to James as bishop of Jerusalem, and they unanimously chose Simeon, who had probably assisted his brother in the government of that church. In the year 66 civil war broke out in Palestine, as a consequence of Jewish opposition to the Romans. The Christians in Jerusalem were warned of the impending destruction of the city and appear to have been divinely ordered to leave it. Accordingly that same year, before Vespasian entered Judaea, they retired with St. Simeon at their head to the other side of the Jordan, occupying a small city called Pella. After the capture and burning of Jerusalem, the Christians returned and settled among the ruins until the Emperor Hadrian afterwards entirely razed it. We are told by St. Epiphanius and by Eusebius that the church here flourished greatly, and that many Jews were converted by the miracles wrought by the saints. When Vespasian and Domitian had ordered the destruction of all who were of the race of David, St. Simeon had escaped their search; but when Trajan gave a similar injunction, he was denounced as being not only one of David's descendants, but also a Christian, and he was brought before Atticus, the Roman governor. He was condemned to death and, after being tortured, was crucified. Although he was extremely old - tradition reports him to have attained the age of 120 - Simeon endured his sufferings with a degree of fortitude which roused the admiration of Atticus himself. His feast day is February 18

A nutrient found in spinach and eggs could help sharpen reflexes and therefore improve road safety.

So says a team of researchers from Leiden University and the University of Amsterdam, who conducted a study on the impact of intake of tyrosine, a nutrient found in foods including spinach, eggs, cheese and soy.
For their research, scientists tested the reaction times of participants on a computer screen. Whenever a green arrow appeared, they were instructed to press the corresponding button as quickly as possible. Buttons had to match direction of the arrow -- either left or right. When a red arrow appeared, participants were instructed to do nothing.
Sessions were divided into two tests: on one occasion, participants were given a tyrosine-enriched orange juice before the task, and on the other, a glass of orange juice that contained a placebo.
Results showed that candidates showed improved reflexes after drinking the orange juice with tyrosine.
Researchers hypothesize that increased intake of tyrosine-rich foods and supplements could have implications on road safety, improving drivers’ reaction times to braking for children or pile-ups.
Low levels of tyrosine are also linked to lower levels of the neurotransmitter dopamine, which can lead to depression and apathy.

Askofu Gervas Nyaisonga ateuliwa kuwa Askofu Mpya wa Jimbo katoliki Mpanda

Baba Mtakatifu Francisko amemteua Askofu Gervas Nyaisonga kuwa Askofu mpya wa Jimbo Katoliki Mpanda, Tanzania. Itakumbukwa kwamba, Jimbo Katoliki Mpanda lilikuwa wazi baada ya kufariki dunia kwa Askofu Pascal Kikoti hapo tarehe 28 Agosti 2012.

Baba Mtakatifu mstaafu Benedikto wa kumi na sita, tarehe 9 Januari, 2011 alimteua Mheshimiwa Padre Gervas Nyaisonga kuwa Askofu wa Jimbo Katoliki la Dodoma, baada ya Baba Mtakatifu Benedikto wa kumi na sita, kumhamisha Askofu Yuda Thadeus Ruwaichi toka Jimbo Katoliki la Dodoma na kwenda Jimbo kuu la Mwanza kama Askofu mkuu.

Askofu Gervas John Mwasikwabhila Nyaisonga aliwewa kuwekwa wakfu kuwa Askofu wa Jimbo Katoliki la Dodoma, hapo tarehe 19 Marchi, 2011, kwenye Kanisa kuu la Mtakatifu Paulo wa Msalaba.

Askofu Gervas John Mwasikwabhila

HILLSONG - video song How Great is our God

Rubani aliteka ndege ya Ethiopia

Ndege iliyokuwa imetekwa

Rubani msaidizi wa ndege ya abiria ya shirika la ndege la Ethiopia ndiye aliyeiteka nyara .

Maafisa mini Geneva wanasema kuwa naibu huyo wa rubani alichukua usukani wa ndege hiyo rubani wake alipokwenda msalani kwa haja.
Tukio hilo inaripotiwa kutokea ndege hiyo aina ya Boeing 767-300 ilipokuwa ikipaa katika anga ya Sudan.
Rubani huyo msaidizi alibadili mkondo wa ndege hiyo iliyokuwa ikielekea Rome Italia ,na kuipaa hadi Uswisi alipoitua katika uwanja wa ndege wa Geneva.
Katika taarifa kwa vyombo vya habari shirika hilo linasema kuwa abiria wote 200 wako salama .
Ripoti ya idara inayosimamia usafiri wa ndege ya Uswisi inasema kuwa rubani huyo msaidizi aliomba uraiya kabla ya kutua ndege hiyo na akajisalimisha kwa maafisa wa usalama waliokuwa wameizingira ndege hiyo.
Polisi walimtia mbaroni mara moja .

Becoming a Catholic

Interested In Learning More About The Catholic Church ?

Welcome! This page explains the process by which one can - through their local Catholic church - learn more about the faith. We hope this information is helpful to you!
The process by which adults come into the Church has come to be known as "the RCIA", which is short for "The Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults."

Who is the process for?

1. The unbaptized. The primary focus of the Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults is on those who are not already Christian and have not been catechized.
2. Baptized but uncatechized. Those who have been baptized either as Roman Catholics or as members of another Christian community but did not receive further catechetical formation or instruction. These typically have also not celebrated confirmation nor Eucharist.
3. Those seeking full Catholic Communion. These are baptized, practicing Christians from other denominations who seek entry into the Catholic Church.

In the case of children who have reached the age of reason, the proper pastor should be consulted for information about Baptism and the other Sacraments of Initiation.
The Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults is not for adult candidates for confirmation who have already received their First Eucharist in the Catholic Church. They should have their own formation process and be confirmed at a celebration other than the Easter Vigil.

What does the process look like?

The Rite of Christian Initiation is based on the principle that the process of conversion proceeds gradually, in stages. Progress from one stage to the next is marked by a liturgical celebration in the midst of the parish community. The experience and needs of those in each category described above differ, and so the length of time may vary for each person. Nevertheless, there are certain similarities among all the groups and the process they will experience, and these can be listed as follows:

Precatechumenate

The first stage is called the period of inquiry (or the precatechumenate). This is when the individual first expresses an interest in becoming a Christian or a Catholic, and begins to explore, with the help of the parish community, what his or her relationship with Christ might be and how that might be enriched and deepened by joining this Christian community. There is no liturgical rite to mark the beginning of this stage. This period of inquiry may last several months or several years and ends either when the inquirer decides against continuing in this direction or when the inquirer feels ready to move on and the community is prepared to welcome him or her.

Catechumenate

The second stage is called the catechumenate and, for the unbaptized listed above, who are now called catechumens, should last no less than one full year. For the baptized but uncatechized the period should be a similar length. For the candidates for full communion, this stage could well be much shorter. The Rite of Acceptance into the Order of Catechumens and the Rite of Welcoming mark the beginning of this stage. Catechesis for this period is rooted in the Lectionary and the Word as it is proclaimed in the midst of the community. This is also a time for the catechumen or candidate to learn how to live as a Catholic Christian. This period ends when the catechumens and candidates express their desire to receive the sacraments of initiation and the community acknowledges their readiness.

Purification and Enlightenment

The third stage is the period of purification and enlightenment and coincides with Lent. During this time the elect (formerly the catechumens) and the candidates enter into a period of intense preparation and prayer which includes the three public celebrations of the scrutinies and is marked by the presentations of the Creed and the Lord's Prayer. The Rite of Election and the Call to Continuing Conversion are celebrated at the beginning of this stage. This period ends with the celebration of baptism, confirmation, and Eucharist at the Easter Vigil. (Note: only the elect are baptized. All the groups are confirmed and welcomed to the table.)

Mystagogy

The fourth stage is the period of post baptismal catechesis or mystagogy. At this time, the newly initiated explore their experience of being fully initiated through participation with all the faithful at Sunday Eucharist and through appropriate catechesis. The period formally lasts through the Easter season and may be marked by a parish celebration on or near Pentecost. On a more informal level, mystagogy is a lifelong process, one that all Christians are engaged in, as we all work to deepen our sense of what it means to live the Christian life.
It is important to note that those who fall into the third category above (candidates for full communion) do not always need to take part in the full process. Especially if they have been actively living the Christian life in another denomination, they are likely in need of very little catechesis and may be welcomed into the Church on any Sunday after a short period of preparation. According to the National Statutes for the Catechumenate, "Those baptized persons who have lived as Christians and need only instruction in the Catholic tradition and a degree of probation within the Catholic community should not be asked to undergo a full program parallel to the catechumenate."

I'm interested. What should my first step be?

Contact your nearest Catholic parish . Your Catholic priest can discuss with you the specifics of the initiation process at your local parish. Know that the prayers of a 65 million Catholics in the United States and the 1.2 Billion Catholics around the world are with you as you complete your journey. Best wishes!